Historical information
The Whitlam ALP government came to power in 1972 after 23 years in opposition. Whitlam's government was aspirational in terms of its social justice and equality agenda.
The government was dismissed on 11 November 1975 by the governor general, Sir John Kerr; this act was unprecedented. The book is written by Garfield Barwick who was a high court judge; Barwick provided advice to Sir John Kerr at the time. The author defends the appropriateness/legality of Kerr's role and decision making at the time of the dismissal.
The ALP lost the election held on 13 December that was caused by the 1975 double dissolution/constitutional crisis.
Significance
Relevance to Australian political and constitutional history.
Physical description
Book; 129 pages.
Front cover: white background; green illustration of a building; green lettering; author's name and title.
Inscriptions & markings
Price - 50c - in pencil.
Subjects
- btlc,
- ballarat trades and labour council,
- ballarat trades hall,
- politics and government,
- constitution - australia,
- kerr, sir john,
- barwick, garfield,
- whitlam, gough,
- prime ministers - australia - gough whitlam,
- prime ministers - australia - malcolm fraser,
- fraser, malcolm,
- dismissal - government,
- courts - high court,
- parliament,
- australian labor party,
- alp,
- liberal party australia
References
- ABC footage: the dismissal Footage from the ABC, including Whitlam's famous speech on the steps of parliament.
